Display system

ABSTRACT

A control system for a data display system such as a scoreboard, message board or the like wherein display indicators having location addresses, on the board are addressed and actuated through a logic system which first receives and stores address data pertaining to a particular indicator, receives display character data, and responsive to the receipt of the character display data automatically reads out the address data to the board for enabling the desired indicator followed by the display character data to actuate it to display the desired character. Indicator circuits are provided for the control of each indicator comprising semiconductor switches which are reset by the addressing of the indicator and actuated to display the desired character responsive to the receipt of the display character data. A memory storage is also provided to cause the display of repeatedly used messages and animated characters.

United States Patent {72] Inventors Joseph Gardberg 3,423,626 1/1969Bouchard et al I 340/324 Chicago; 3,416,133 l2/l968 Hunkins et al340/334 g gayne' Des Flames Howard Primary Examiner-John W. Caldwellosncr, Chicago, all of, III.

Assistant Exammer-Marshall M. Curtis m l Appl' 626938 Attorn Au 1 0 Dvas W'll m J New d 22] Filed Mar. 271967 eysgus us ou I la man an 45Patented July 20, 1971 Lesser [73] Assignee Stewart-Warner CorporationChicago, Ill.

ABSTRACT: A control system for a data display system such 54] DISPLAYSYSTEM a scoreboard, message board or the like wherein display in- Chins22 Drawing Fig dicators having location addresses, on the board areaddressed and actuated through a logic system which first receives and iA tores address data pertaining to a particular indicator 340/337receives display character data, and responsive to the receipt 1 Int. ofthe character data automatically reads out the ad- 0 Search dress datato the board for enabling the desired indicator fol- 3 339 lowed by thedisplay character data to actuate it to display the l Reerenm Citeddesired character. Indicator circuits are provided for the control ofeach indicator comprising semiconductor switches UNITED STATES PATENTSwhich are reset by the addressing of the indicator and actuatedl,0S4,336 2/ I913 Brown 3401339 to display the desired characterresponsive to the receipt of 2,006,436 7/1935 Bowers 340/339 the displaycharacter data. A memory storage is also provided 3,225,342 12/1 965Clark 340/ 324 to cause the display of repeatedly used messages andanimated 3.273.140 9/1966 Foster et al. 340/334 characters.

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PATENYEU JULZO ms 3. 5 94. 76 2 sum on HF 17 00 00 00000 0. 0000000 0 OO O 0 00.0.0. 0 0 0 O0 0 00000 O 0 0 0000000 000000. 00000 0 0000000000000 on... o 00 o 00 (D :00:0o: 0 0 o 0 a 0 00 o H 0 000000 00 o 0o 0I o 0 0 o 0 Q 0 0 o 0 o o 0 o 0 o 0 0000000 00 0 0000 0 00000 000 00 000000000 no. 0 o 0 0 I. 1 u o o a o 0 u 000 0 3 Q o o o 0 o u o 0 0000'can... .000 Q.

3 o :0 a 0 "0 o o 0 o o o o o o o o a o o o o o o a a 0 0000000 0000. oa 00 00 o o 00 0 .0 0 000 o o o o 0 00 0 0 o o o o o o 0 o o o w o a o oo o o o o a o o 0 0000000 0000000 00 00 o 000 o '0 00000 00000 00 0 00 oo 0 0 o 3 000000. a o o a w o 0 a 0 o a 0 m o o w o o o a eoooooem .0000w 00 one o o momma on a o a o a an o 0000 an m m a @0009 0Q000 on em m00000mm em am 0 w as 9 a w a m as a a ca 0 cw w a snowman mummmm 0a cm IN VE N T O R S 00000. 0 0000000 g JOSEPH GARDBERG 00:00. 000000: 00000:.ROBERT A. PAYNE HOWARD G. POSNER Attorney PATENTED JUL20 12m SHEET 05[1F 17 I III I 08% AA AI Il I I Ros INVENTORS JOSEPH GARDBERG ROBERT APAYNE HOWARD G POSNER AHornov PATENTEB JUL20 :97;

SHEET 0a or n MOM/7E0 4561! 600i 7 7 111 w wmwanmmvw c cccccc I r. 5 Ir. 5 S 5 5 1234 6 59 1 1 0 6 a c c c c U C c c c q 6 U a q aAJSIIJSSSSSSSIIS 1 QP- U WXYZ 10 4 A50F64IJK M 0 0 1 1 3 0 2 3 4 5 6 7 89 a M a l 0 2 M F 8/ M r w I 6M 00 m E 000 f a c a 125 0 234 6 0123456MHMMMM M a 1 0 l 0 1 a 1 a 1 a r. 0 1 0 1 Ma011001100110011 Macao/ 1100011 1 M o 0 a 0 a 0 a 0 1 J 1 1 1 1 1. 7 6 0 INVENTORS JOSEPH GARDBEHGROBERT A PAYNE HOWARD G. POSNEH AHornuv PATENTEB JULEO ism SHEET 09 0F17 mmh muoOOz mMPZDOO wmwmcoq INVENTORS JOSEPH GARDBERG I ROBERT AFN/NEHOWARD 6. POSNER Ano nov PATENTEU JUL20197| sum 10 0F 17 SS ENCODER.FIG. l4

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w w JOSEPH GARDBERG 1 3 3 ROBERT A PAYNE o mum g 5 2 1 5 HOWARD e.POSNER Anornev PATENTED JUL 20 I971 SHEET 11 [1F 17 l N V E N T O R SJOSEPH GARDBERG ROBERT A. PAYNE HOWARD G. POSNER y AHornov rlllllllllllllllll 11L PATENTED JUL20 I971 SHEET 12 0F 17 KNVENTORSJOSEPH GARDBERG ROBERT A PAYNE HOWARD G. POSNER PATENTEU JULZO 15m sum13 0F 1 mmcouzm mmumna mohm 40 INVENTORS JOSEPH GARDBERG ROBERT A. PAYNEHOWARD G. POSNER wa M...

AHornoy PATENTED JULZO I971 SHEET 1'4 0F 17 Qdl w: JOmFZOO mmkzzoo I N VE N T O R S JOSEPH GARDBERG ROBERT A.PAYNE HOWARD e. POSNER A r lornevPATENTEnJuLamsn 3594762 764/9 5 A A4602) X W FIG. l6.

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ADDRESS INVENTORS asosd v; I, JOSEPH GARDBERG DECODER 5 moz. m 3 11ROBERT A. PAYNE XU2 n L% g a g HOWARD e. POSNER In J fiIBOZI 606' 3 5 vAttorney PATENIEU JUL 20 :97:

SHEET 17 [1F 17 IT TER NALS A T A D I N V E N T O R S JOSEPH GARDBERGROBERT A. PAYNE HOWARD G. POSNER H l .n 59 3099.

DISPLAY SYSTEM The system herein described and claimed is a digital controlled, all electronic, semiconductor system having highly flexibleinput and display output capabilities operable at very high speeds.Basic to the system is its capability to address and read in displaydata to any location on the display board without having to switchthrough a number of other locations and without disturbing the data atany other location. That is, any display device or indicator at thedisplay board may be reached and caused to display a desired charactermerely by inserting the proper address data followed by the desiredcharacter data. The address data enables the desired indicator at thedesired location on the board and the display data triggers thatindicator to operate in accordance with the desired character. Any otherdesired display device or indicator may then be addressed and triggeredor, in the case of message information display, the next sequencedindicator may be automatically addressed to display the desiredcharacter. Hence, the system has full flexibility to provide an almostunlimited array of visual arrangements. Besides the usual alpha andnumeric characters, the system includes capability to display picturesand even animated cartoons or caricatures.

Typical older type systems were generally electromechanical in nature.Usually an electrical mechanical stepping switch was used for each rowof display devices or indicators. To select a desired indicator theoperator would press a button to select the proper stepping switch andthen pulse the stepping switch the required number of times to reach thedesired indicator in that row. The stepping switches had multibanks ofcontacts by which the data information was sent to the selectedindicator. The pulsing of the selector switch of course slowed up theaddressing function so that it was difficult to randomly change thedisplay on a particular indicator as is required in animated picturedisplays.

Because many display systems require that the display panel be locatedat a remote location from the data input and control console, the'numberof conductors between the console and the display panel becomes animportant factor. In spite of I the high flexibility of the system ofthis invention the number of conductors required is minimized becauseall of the address information is transmitted over one set of conductorsin binary coded decimal form, and all the data display information istransmitted over another set of conductors. In other systems capable ofdisplaying animated cartoons, etc. it has been required to have aseparate line from the picture generator to the display panel for eachdisplay device or indicator at the display panel.

The system of the present invention also'has single button addressingand word generating capabilities. For example, in a baseball scoreboardwhere it is desired to have ready access to the game in progressindicators for displaying the number of strikes, balls, outs etc. as thegame proceeds, the present system has the capability of addressing thedesired section of the board by pressing a single button and theninserting the proper numeric data for displaying the proper information.

The word generating capability enables a section of the scoreboard to beused for one or more different, but often repeatable data displayspertaining to the game. For example,

there may be a section of the board on which it is desired to displaythe number of the batter at the plate and alternatively to indicate aparticular play during the progress of the game. When the batter numberis displayed it is desired to write the word BATTER in that location ofthe board with the batters number, and when a rule is to be displayedthe word PLAY is displayed at that same location with the properdescription. The operator may select the proper display by operating asingle button for BATTER or PLAY, whichever is desired, followed by theproper hatter number or play information as required. In previousscoreboard systems single button addressing and/or single buttonaddressing with word generating required separate lines between theconsole and the particular display panel indicators involved. In thesystem of this invention the address and word generating data istransmitted over the same conductors used for the address and datasignals to any display indicator on the board.

This display system also includes a unique control'circuit for each ofthe display devices or indicators at the display panel. No electricalmechanical devices, such as relays, are used in these indicators, butrather switch means are used which are completely electronic utilizinghighly reliable and fast operating semiconductor devices such as siliconcontrolled rectifiers. Unique means are used to reset each indicator if,but only if, the indicator has been addressed, and then reenabled foroperation responsive to the subsequent receipt of display data inaccordance with the character to be displayed by that indicator.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new displaysystem for scoreboard, information message and/or advertising displaymaterials.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a display system inwhich a display device or indicator located at any position on the boardmaybe randomly addressed and caused to display desired data.

It is another object of this invention to provide a display system inwhich the number of conductors between the control console and themessage display board is minimized.

Also it is an object of this invention to provide a display system inwhich particular locations on the board may be selected by means of onebutton addressing for the display of desired information.

A further object of the invention is to provide a system in whichparticular locations on the board may be addressed and caused to displaypredetermined information such as particular words upon the operation ofa single button at the console.

Further it is an object of this invention to provide a display system inwhich a single display indicator encoder is utilized to cause anyselected indicator on the display panel to display a desired datacharacter.

Another object of this invention is to provide a control system in whichanimated characterizations may be displayed by means of the rapid inputof serially stored address and display data inserted into the controlsystem from a memory device such as magnetic or punched tape, or thelike.

It is another object of this invention to provide a unique indicatorcircuit utilizing electronic semiconductor devices.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an indicator controlcircuit having a unique means for resetting the displayed contents ofthe display indicator.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be readi- Iyapparent to the reader upon a further reading of this specification,especially when taken in view of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is an elevation view of a display board of the type to be used inan athletic stadium for the display of game statistics and messageinformation;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of an auxiliary scoreboard;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the operator control console for operating thescoreboards of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of an indicator of the type used in thescoreboards of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 depicts alpha-numeric and punctuation characters of the typewhich may be displayed on the indicator of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5a depicts special characters which may be displayed on theindicator of FIG. 4 for shaping pictures and/or designs on the messageportion of the scoreboard of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6a-6e depicts the type of figures that can be formed by thecharacters of FIG. 50, showing figures in animated sequence for animatedcartoon display;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the display control system of thisinvention; 1

7 FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a control circuit for each individualindicator;

FIG. 9 is a table of modified ASCII coded representations for thedisplay characters shown in FIGS. 5 and 5a; and

FIGS. I0 through I7 are schematic diagrams of the control system to bearranged in the manner shown in FIG. 19.

Although the features of this invention pertain to any type of displaysystem, they will be herein described with reference to a scoreboardsystem which embodies all of the claimed features. The scoreboardhereinafter described is essentially of the type now being used in theAnaheim Stadium at Anaheim, Calif. ln the description to follow, thereference numbers used will be coded by means of the l's and IOOOsdigits to the particular figure in which the component or element firstappears and that component or element will retain that number in anysubsequent figure in which it appears. Thus, an element with the number246 would be found in FIG. 2 whereas an element with number 1216 wouldbe found in FIG. 12. Conductors extending between one or more figureswill be numbered in accordance with the first figure to which they arereferenced in the description.

GENERAL DESCRlPTlON OF SCOREBOARD AND CONSOLE (FIGS. 1, 2 & 3)

The scoreboard display portion of the system comprises a main scoreboard100 (FlG. 1) made up of a plurality of display devices or indicators 102which may register alpha-numeric characters or other designs if desiredas will be described hereinafter. If the main board is located in thepark so that certain portions of the spectators cannot view it, one ormore auxiliary scoreboards 200 (FIG. 2) may be located at appropriatelocations. The auxiliary scoreboard 200 is also made up of displayindicators 102 of essentially the same type utilized in the main board.The main scoreboard 100 is divided into two basic sections, namely, thegame in progress section 104 and the message portion 106, while theauxiliary scoreboard 200 is devoted strictly to game in progressinformat|on.

As shown in FIG. 1 the scoreboard display panel is arranged in rows (Y0lthrough Yl5) and columns (X01 through X28) of indicators for the purposeof exact addressing of any desired indicator. Thus, any indicator on thedisplay panel 100 may be referred to by stating its address in terms ofits Y number and its X number. in the system described the first row ofthe message section 106 is designated Y01 and the message portioncontinues through row Y while the game in progress portion includes rowsY1l through Y15. Thus, the indicator 105, upon which the letter A in theword AMER- [CAN is portrayed, has the location address Y01-Xl1, whereasthe indicator 107 displaying the letter G in theword ANGELS is locatedby the address YI5X03. In the system described each Y and X addressnumber must consist of two digits to satisfy the system logic as will beseen later. Hence, address numbers under 10 must be preceded by a zero,e.g. 0l 02 etc.

Any indicator on the board except certain fixed caption indicators inthe game in progress section 104 may be reached to display a desiredcharacter by reading into the control system the proper address for thatindicator. This is accomplished, for example, by the use of the numerickeyboard 302, forming a part of the operators console 300 shown in FIG.3. Thus, indicator 105 may be reached to display the letter A by firstpunching the key marked SPEC. ADD. (Special Address) followed by thenumber Ol for the Y address, which is in turn followed by the number l lfor the X address. The subsequent actuation of the A key in thetypewriterlike alpha keyboard 304 will then cause the latter A to bedisplayed on addressed indicator 105. The following indicators are thenautomatically sequentially addressed so that the operator needs merelyto punch the alpha keys M, E, R, l, C, A and N to display the whole wordAMERICAN.

If the message is longer than the row, then further message display isimpeded until the carriage return key 305 is actuated to cause theautomatic addressing of the first indicator in the next row. The messagemay then be continued until the last indicator in the last row of themessage section (Yl0- X28) is reached. Further automatic advancing ofthe address is then prevented because the next numbered indicator rowY1] is in the game in progress section 104. Thus, the indicators in theGame in Progress Section cannot be inadvertently affected, when writingin a message on the Message Section 106.

As previously mentioned, the game in progress section 104 of the mainscoreboard as well as the auxiliary scoreboard 200 are devoted toinformation pertaining to the particular game being played. The top tworows of indicators Y1] and Yl2 are used for the display of play by playinformation while the next three rows Yl3 through YIS are used for theinning by inning or line score information as well as the game totals.This section of the board is controlled by the upper portion 305 of theoperators console shown in FIG. 3. The indicators in the top row Ylldisplaying the words BALL, STRIKE, OUT and BATTER are fixed captionindicators which are actuated by a power switch directly connected tothose indicators and are not controlled by the control logic of thesystem hereinafter described. These indicators might also be arranged todisplay fixed captions for football games in which case the words DOWN,TO GO, QTR, and BALL ON will be displayed. The indicators in row Y13displaying the captions R, H, E and 1G are also fixed caption indicatorsnot controllable by the control logic.

To display the desired play by play information the operator manipulatesthe proper button 306,308,310 or 312 which automatically addresses therelated numeric indicators immediately below the appropriate fixedcaptions. The numeric information is then read in by means of thenumeric keyboard 302. Thus, the present batters number is displayed byfirst operating key 306 which automatically addresses numeric indicatorY12-X21 followed by the players number inserted from the keyboard 302.Each ball and strike of the batter is registered by operation of buttons308 and 310, followed by the insertion of the numeric data from keyboard302. When the next batter comes to bat the previous batters number andthe balls and strikes may be erased by operation of the CLEAR button314.

The ball, strike and out data is displayed on the auxiliary scoreboard200 simultaneously with its display on the main board 100. The numericindicators immediately following the fixed captions on the auxiliaryboard 200 are designated by the same addresses as the correspondingnumeric indicators on the main board so that they may be controlledtogether. Thus, the indicator immediately after the fixed captionindicators spelling BALL on the auxiliary board 200 has the sameaddress, Y12X02, as the indicator immediately under the fixed captionindicators spelling BALL on the main board 100.

The group of indicators 206 are used for displaying various informationincluding the present batters number. However, since these indicatorsare used for other information, fixed caption indicators cannot be usedand the word BATTER is automatically displayed by means of the controllogic. Therefore, when the operator actuates button 306 on the console,the control logic automatically generates the word BATTER and causes itto be displayed on the first six indicators of the group 206. Theinsertion of the batters number automatically causes its display on thelast two indicators of the group 206 on the auxiliary board. Theaddresses for the auxiliary board indicators of group 206 and the wordis generated in a manner which will be hereinafter described withrespect to the control logic system.

The line score information of rows Yl3 through YlS of the main board isalso controlled by means of single button addressing in a manner similarto the play by play information of lines Y 11 and Y12. For example, theword ANGELS is written onto indicators YI5X01 through Y15-X06 on themain board 100 by use of the home team button 318 in the team nameformat portion of the console 300 which automatically addressesindicator YI5X01. This is followed by the insertion from the alphacharacter buttons on keyboard 304, the letters spelling out the nameANGELS. The visiting team name format button 320 is used for the singlebutton addressing of indicator Y14X01 for writing in the name of the

1. An information display system comprising a message board, a pluralityof display devices arranged in groups at sequential address locations onsaid board, input means for inserting address data segments pertainingto any desired group of display devices and display data segmentspertaining to desired patterns to be displayed on a group of displaydevices, means for storing an inserted address data segment means forpreparing for subsequent actuation the group addressed in response tosaid stored address segment, means responsive to a first inserteddisplay data segment following a stored address data segment foractuating the prepared group of display devices to display the desiredpattern of said first display data segment, means operable responsive tosaid actuating means for automatically advancing the address data insaid storing means to the next sequential address, and means responsiveto the insertion of each subsequent display data segment not preceded byan inserted address data segment for causing said actuating means toactuate the advanced address group of display devices to display thepattern pertaining to the display data segment and for causing saidaddress advancing means to advance the stored address data to successivesequential addresses.
 2. The display system of claim 1 wherein saiddisplay device groups are arranged in substantially an X and Ycoordinate system wherein said data input means comprises means forentering the address segments in separate X and Y coordinate numericaldata in binary coded decimal character form, and wherein said addressstorage means comprises means for storing each digit of the X and Ycoordinate address data separately.
 3. The display system of claim 1wherein said data input means comprises a typewriter type keyboard. 4.The display system of claim 1 wherein means are provided for jamming theautomatic advance of said address data in said address storing meansresponsive to the address data in said address storing meanscorresponding to the last group of display devices.
 5. The displaysystem of claim 1 wherein said data input means comprises a data memorydevice capable of having said address and display data stored therein.6. The display system of claim 1 wherein said address data input meanscomprises a manually operable key for selecting a certain desired groupof display devices, and means operable responsive to said key forencoding and transmitting to said address storing means the address datapertaining to said desired indicator.
 7. The display system of claim 1wherein said data input means comprises a manually operable key, meansoperable responsive to said key for automatically encoding andtransmitting to said address storing means address data pertaining to aparticular desired group of display devices, and means also resPonsiveto said key for generating and transmitting to said actuating means andsaid causing means predetermined successive display data segments fordisplaying characters making up a predetermined message.
 8. Theinformation display system of claim 1 wherein said display device groupscomprise a matrix of lamps arranged in rows and columns and meansinterconnecting corresponding rows of each of said indicator lamps,wherein said display device actuating means comprises a lamp encoderhaving a matrix of gate elements arranged in rows and columnscorresponding to said lamp rows and columns, means connectingcorresponding rows of said gate elements to corresponding rows of saidlamps, each of said gate elements actuatable to enable the correspondinglamp in the selected lamp block, means responsive to the input ofdisplay data for enabling certain gate elements in said matrix dependenton the particular data to be displayed, means responsive to the storageof the address data and the input of the display data for producingstrobe signals to sequentially strobe each of said columns of gateelements to thereby actuate said certain enabled elements and tosimultaneously strobe each of said columns of lamps for actuatingcertain lamps in the selected lamp block corresponding to the certainactuated elements in said lamp encoder, and means in each of saidindicators for maintaining the lamps actuated therein until said lampblock is again addressed.
 9. The information display system of claim 7wherein said display data segment generating and transmitting meanscomprises a plurality of gates each of which corresponds to a characterin the message to be displayed, means including a clock operableresponsive to the operation of said key for sequentially opening each ofsaid gates momentarily, and a data generator operable responsive to theopening of each gate to generate data pertaining to the respectivemessage character.
 10. A system for displaying an animatedcharacterization comprising a display board made up of a plurality ofdisplay devices, a memory for storing multibit coded data in data framespertaining to patterns for forming said animated characterization, meansfor reading said data frames from said memory in sequence includingelectric signal conductor means having a sufficient number of conductorsto transmit said multibit coded data but substantially less than thenumber of display devices making up said display board, and means inreceipt of the data signals on said conductor means for operating saiddisplay devices in accordance with said sequenced data frames.
 11. Aninformation display system comprising a message board, a plurality ofdisplay lamp groups blocks at address locations on said board, a logiccontrol system, a storage memory input means for serially enteringaddress data and display data into said logic control systemcorresponding to desired lamp groups blocks and desired displaycharacters, said memory having stored therein a plurality of seriallytime sequenced segments of address and display data for automaticallydisplaying a series of display characters on said board to form ananimated display sequence, and means in said logic control systemoperative responsive to the input of each data segment for selectingeach addressed lamp groups block and actuating said addressed lampgroups block to display the desired display character.
 12. A system fordisplaying an animated characterization made up of a sequence of visualdisplay frames comprising a display board having display devicesarranged in addressable locations, a memory for storing coded addressand display data in data frames pertaining to a desired pattern for eachof said visual display frames, means for reading the coded address anddisplay data in said data frames from said memory in sequence, meansresponsive to the coded address data from said memory for preparing theaddressed display devices and means responsive to the display data fromsaid memory for actuating the adDressed display devices to form thepatterns of each frame.
 13. In the system of claim 12 wherein saidmemory comprises a magnetic tape storage.
 14. An information displaysystem comprising a message board, a plurality of groups of displaydevices at sequential address locations on said board, means forinserting address data and display data to display desired characters atdesired locations, means for storing the address and display dataconnected to said data inserting means, address data decoder means atsaid board and connected to said address storing means for selecting anaddressed display device group, a display device group encoderactuatable by said data inserting means to actuate an addressed displaydevice group to display the desired character, means operable responsiveto the storage of the address data and the insertion of the display datafor transmitting the address data stored in said address storage meansto said address decoder and for transmitting the desired characterdisplay data to the addressed display device group, and means formaintaining each addressed display device group actuated untilsubsequently readdressed, said data inserting means comprising a memorycapable of storing discreet segments of address and display data andcontinuously transmitting said discreet segments in serial mode to saidaddress storage means and said display device group encoder, wherebysaid actuated display device groups form an animated display.
 15. Foruse in an information display system having a plurality of displayindicators at address locations, each display indicator comprising aplurality of lamps, an electric current power supply, an electronic lampswitch in series with each of said lamps and one terminal of said powersupply, an electronic reset switch connected between the other terminalof said power supply and said series connected lamps and lamp switches,means adapted to receive address signals peculiar to said indicator,means operable responsive to said address signal receiving means foropening said reset switch to open the connection between said lamps andthe other side of said power supply, means adapted to receive lampsignals peculiar to selected lamps in said indicator, means operableresponsive to said lamp signal receiving means for actuating each lampswitch corresponding to a selected lamp.
 16. The display indicator ofclaim 15 wherein said power supply is a direct current source.
 17. Thedisplay indicator of claim 16 wherein said electronic lamp switches andsaid reset switch are SCR''s.
 18. The display indicator of claim 17wherein said reset SCR opening means comprises a monostablemultivibrator having a short duty cycle with respect to the addresssignals and a transistor operable responsive to said multivibrator fortemporarily shunting said reset SCR.
 19. The display indicator of claim17 wherein said reset SCR reactuating means comprises a monostablemultivibrator having a long duty cycle with respect to said addresssignals and a triggering SCR operable responsive to the simultaneousoperation of said multivibrator and the receipt of a lamp signal totrigger said reset SCR into conduction.
 20. The display indicator ofclaim 19 wherein said lamp SCR actuating means comprises a gate circuitoperative responsive to the receipt of said selected lamp signals andthe operation of said triggering SCR for triggering each lamp SCR in theselected indicator corresponding to a selected lamp.
 21. An informationdisplay system comprising a message board, a plurality of displayindicators at address locations on said board, each of said indicatorscomprising a matrix of lamps arranged in rows and columns, address anddisplay data input means, means for storing the address data inserted bysaid input means, address data decoder means connected to said addressstoring means for producing address signals corresponding to a desiredindicator, a lamp encoder having a matrix of elements arranged in rOwsand columns corresponding to said lamp rows and columns, meansinterconnecting the outputs of corresponding rows of said elements,means responsive to the input of display data for enabling certainelements in each row dependent on the particular data to be displayed,means for producing strobe signals to cause said address storing meansto transmit the address data to said address decoder to produce saidaddress signals and for subsequently producing column strobe signals tosequentially strobe each of said columns of elements to thereby actuateand produce row lamp signals at the outputs of said certain enabledelements; each display indicator further comprising an electric currentpower supply, an electronic lamp switch in series with each of saidlamps and one terminal of said power supply, an electronic reset switchconnected between the other terminal of said power supply and saidseries connected lamps and lamp switches, means in receipt of addresssignals corresponding to said indicator for opening said reset switch toopen the connection between said lamps and the other side of said powersupply, means operable responsive to the first strobe signal forreactuating said reset switch, means operable responsive to said addresssignal and the first column strobe signal for preparing each lamp switchin said indicator, and means responsive to the simultaneous receipt ofcolumn strobe lamp signals and row lamp signals for actuatingcorresponding lamp switches to energize the corresponding lamps inaccordance with the display data to be displayed.
 22. The display systemof claim 21 wherein said indicators are arranged in substantially an Xand Y coordinate system, wherein said data input mean comprises meansfor entering the indicator address in separate X and Y coordinatenumerical data into binary coded decimal form, and wherein said addressstorage comprises means for storing each digit of the X and Y coordinatenumerical data and means for encoding the address coordinate numericaldata into binary coded decimal form, and wherein said address storagecomprises means for storing each digit of the X and Y coordinate addressdata separately.
 23. The display system of claim 22 wherein said addressstorage means comprises means responsive to said input means forrecognizing a first input character indicating the immediately followingdata relates to an indicator address and a counter operative responsiveto the input of said first character and a predetermined number ofaddress significant digits for preparing said strobe signal producingmeans, and wherein said lamp encoder comprises means responsive to thereceipt of legitimate display data for actuating said strobe signalproducing means.
 24. The display system of claim 23 wherein means areprovided for automatically advancing the address data for one coordinatein said address storing means to the next highest number responsive tosaid strobe signal producing means.
 25. The display system of claim 24wherein means are provided for jamming the automatic advance of saidaddress data in said address storing means responsive to the addressdata in said address storing means corresponding to the last indicatorin said one coordinate.
 26. The display system of claim 21 wherein saidlamp switches and said reset switch are SCR''s.
 27. The display systemof claim 26 wherein said reset SCR opening means comprises a monostablemultivibrator having a short duty cycle with respect to the addresssignals and a transistor operable responsive to said multivibrator fortemporarily shunting said reset SCR.
 28. The display system of claim 26wherein said reset SCR reactuating means comprises a monostablemultivibrator having a long duty cycle with respect to said addresssignals and a triggering SCR operable responsive to the simultaneousoperation of said multivibrator and the receipt of said first columnstrobe signal to trigger said reset SCR into conduction.
 29. AninformatiOn display system comprising a message board, a plurality ofdisplay indicators at address locations on said board, each of saidindicators comprising a matrix of light devices arranged in rows andcolumns, means interconnecting corresponding rows of each of saidindicator light devices, a logic control system, operator controlledmeans for inserting numerical address data and display data to displaydesired characters at desired locations on said board, said datainserting means having a multiline output for transmitting signals tosaid logic control system in binary coded decimal form, said logiccontrol system comprising a separate gate for each number and character,address storage means for each significant digit of said address data,an address counter, means responsive to the input of a special characterfor triggering said address counter one count and for enabling saiddigit storage means, means responsive to the input of each significantdigit of said address data for enabling the respective digit storingmeans to receive and store its respective digit, a light device encoderhaving a matrix of elements arranged in rows and columns correspondingto said light device rows and columns, means connecting correspondingrows of said elements to corresponding rows of said indicator lightdevices, each of said elements actuatable to enable the correspondinglight device in an addressed indicator, each of said elements actuatableto enable certain elements in said matrix of elements dependent on theparticular data to be displayed on the addressed indicator, a strobecounter operable responsive to a signal from said address counterindicating the receipt and storage of the address data and a signal fromsaid encoder indicating the encoding of a legitimate character forproducing strobe signals to cause said address data storage devices tosimultaneously transmit the stored data to said address decoder andthereafter to sequentially strobe each of said columns of elements tothereby actuate said certain enabled elements and to simultaneouslystrobe each of said columns of indicator light devices for actuatingcertain light devices in the selected indicator corresponding to thecertain actuated elements in said light device encoder.
 30. Theinformation display system of claim 29 wherein said light devicescomprise electric lamps and wherein said indicator has a control circuitcomprising a lamp switch for each lamp in said indicator, meansresponsive to the receipt of the address data corresponding to saidindicator for preparing each of said switches in said indicator and forextinguishing any lamps in said indicator previously actuated, meansresponsive to the first strobe signal for enabling said indicator lamps,and means responsive to the concurrent receipt of said strobe signalsand signals from said certain lamp and coder elements for actuating thelamp switches corresponding to the certain actuated elements in saidlamp and coder.
 31. In an information display system for displayingcharacters on a matrix of light devices arranged in rows and columns, alight device encoder comprising a matrix of gate elements arranged inrows and columns corresponding to said matrix of light devices, saidmeans connecting corresponding rows of elements to corresponding rows ofdevices, character display data input means, each of said elementsactuatable to enable the corresponding device in said matrix, meansresponsive to the input of display data for enabling certain elements insaid matrix dependent on the particular character to be displayed, andmeans for sequentially strobing each of said columns of elements andeach of said columns of light devices to control the transfer ofencoding data in said gates to said light devices to thereby actuatecorresponding light devices.
 32. In an information display system fordisplaying characters in a matrix arrangement of display devicesarranged in rows and columns, a display device encoder comprising amatrix of elements arranged in roWs and columns corresponding to saidmatrix arrangement, means connecting corresponding rows of elements tocorresponding rows of display devices, said elements actuatable toenable certain devices in said matrix, character display data inputmeans, means responsive to the input of display data for enablingcertain elements in said matrix dependent on the particular character tobe displayed, and means for sequentially strobing each of said columnsof elements to thereby actuate display devices corresponding to saidenabled elements.